The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, CON, has been honoured as the 2026 “Man of the Year” by the African Cultural Festival (ACF) and presented with the Key to the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in recognition of his contributions to education and human capital development.

The honours were presented to Alausa during the grand finale of the African Cultural Festival in Harrisburg, held under the theme, “The Great Reunion: Culture, Education, and Collaboration.”

The recognition provided an opportunity for the Minister to call for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and its diaspora community in the areas of education, research, innovation, technology transfer and human capital development.

Alausa dedicated the award to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, education-sector officials and stakeholders, as well as Nigerian children and young people, whom he described as being at the centre of the Federal Government’s education reform agenda.

The Minister said Nigeria’s education transformation programme covered the entire education value chain, from basic and secondary education to technical, vocational and tertiary education.

He highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, expansion of technical and vocational education, curriculum modernisation, medical education, teacher development and investments in laboratories, simulation centres, hostels and other infrastructure as some of the initiatives aimed at improving access, quality, relevance and employability.

Alausa also urged Nigerians living abroad to contribute their expertise, networks and resources to the development of the country’s education sector.

He specifically encouraged diaspora professionals, academics, researchers and institutions to participate in the BRIDGE — Bridging Research, Innovation, Development and Global Expertise — programme.

According to him, diaspora experts could support Nigeria’s education system through mentoring students and young academics, conducting specialised lectures, contributing to research, supporting curriculum development, establishing institutional partnerships and facilitating technology transfer.

The Minister stressed that contributing to national development did not necessarily require Nigerians in the diaspora to relocate permanently to the country.

He said virtual and physical engagements could provide opportunities for diaspora Nigerians to share their expertise and global experience with institutions and young people in Nigeria.

He linked the initiative to the festival’s theme of a “Great Reunion”, describing it as an opportunity to reconnect Africa and its global community through education, culture, innovation and collaboration.

The festival also featured an engagement between the Minister and the DuduPlugs team.

Speaking on the engagement, Leila Steinberg expressed appreciation to Alausa for meeting with the team and listening to its vision.

Steinberg said DuduPlugs was interested in helping young Africans develop and benefit from their talents, culture, ideas and intellectual property, while strengthening connections between Nigerian talent and the global community.

The Chief Executive Officer of DuduPlugs, Wole Adeniyi, described the Minister’s participation in the festival as an important opportunity for cultural diplomacy and educational collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.

Adeniyi said DuduPlugs would build on the engagement by developing a legacy programme focusing on technology transfer, modern innovation and robotics for Nigerians.

He said the organisation would work with collaborators, including Blake Walker, Leila Steinberg, Femi Ojetunde, Dana Sims and Jody David Armour, to explore sustainable partnerships in the education sector.

The Minister also acknowledged the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and its Speaker, Hon. Joanna McClinton; the City of Harrisburg and Mayor Wanda Williams; the DuduPlugs and African Cultural Festival team led by Adeniyi; Goke Adeniyi; Steinberg; Walker; Ojetunde; Sims; Phyllis Bennett; Kelly Summerford; Hon. Carol Kazeem of Delaware and Hon. Segun Adeyina of Georgia for their contributions to the festival.

Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to reforms aimed at expanding educational opportunities, strengthening skills and improving the quality and relevance of education.

He said the ministry would continue to create avenues for Nigerians at home and abroad to contribute to national development and build partnerships connecting Nigeria’s education system with global knowledge, innovation, technology and opportunities.